Dryden takes down Thunder Bay in shootout

DRYDEN, Ont. – Jacen Bracko notched the lone goal of the shootout as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs won their third straight game in extra time as they defeated the Thunder Bay North Stars 5-4 Monday in Superior International Junior Hockey League play at Memorial Arena.

After picking up victories in overtime on Saturday and Sunday, Dryden got going in this one 11 minutes into the contest on a Connor Mowatt marker.

Thunder Bay did tie it before the first period was complete thanks to Ryan Mignault.

The North Stars then scored twice in the second stanza to go up 3-1 as Keigan Gerrie connected at even strength while Kyle Auger converted during a man advantage opportunity.

On the power play twice late in the session, Thunder Bay had chances to extend their lead, but it was the GM Ice Dogs who capitalized as they struck twice while shorthanded as Evan Walls scored at 16:30 while Eric Stout had a buzzer beater at the end of the period to knot the affair at 3-3.

Dryden kept comping and added another 48 seconds into the third with Bracko notching his league-leading 37th to put the home side in front.

The North Stars Bradley Thrower converted during a man advantage at 5:07 for his 25th tally of 2017-18 to help force overtime.

After OT was scoreless, Bracko scored the lone marker in extra shots as he snapped one past Thunder Bay netminder Brandon Bodnar.

Landon Pavlisi made 26 saves and handled all three attempts he saw in the shootout to record the win for Dryden.

Bodnar faced 35 shots in defeat for the Thunder Bay with his squad securing a point in the standings.

Stout had two assists to go with his goal while Alex Maticic picked up a couple of helpers for the North Stars.